Mapping the characteristics of design research in social sciences

Abstract

Background This study aims to identify the characteristics of design studies in disciplines other than design science. Design has grown with industry and developed through close relationships with other disciplines. The scope, method, and purpose of design are not fixed, and design scholars can easily participate in research in other fields. In this context, it is important to understand the nature of design research in other disciplines and how design is used in other disciplines. Methods Through a literature review, we developed a framework for understanding the crossdisciplinary use of design, the classification of design research, and the meaning of design terms. We used this framework to analyze what types of studies on design have been conducted in the social sciences and what type of design they were used for. We selected 443 design research papers out of more than 8,000 articles published from 2004 to 2017, and then qualitatively coded their characteristics through content analysis. Results The framework provides visibility into connectivity and patternsand shows the relationship between the type of design study and the meaning of the design term. While design research in the social science field is used in various design terms at various levels, applied research into design appeared the most frequent in social science. Conclusions Efforts to understand the characteristics of design studies in other disciplines will contribute to the development of the design field and lay a foundation for future interdisciplinary research. Despite its value as exploratory reconnaissance research, this study had empirical limitations related to the temporal and thematic scope of published articles.